According to an article in today's San Francisco Chronicle,electricity theft is a widespread problem across much of Latin America;in Brazil,for example,up to 20%of electricity is stolen.
The workers of companies that take meter reads on foot may face confrontations with customers if they spot power being illegally siphoned."I just keep on doing what I'm doing until they come speak to me,"says Robson Dourado of AES Eletropaulo."If there's trouble,I leave."
Smart meters are being installed to try and combat this problem,as they can detect unusually heavy demand,a tell-tale sign of illegal electricity siphoning.
Smart meters"are the perfect solution,"says Fabio de Oliveira Toledo,Chief Technology Officer at Light,a Rio-based utility company."They save you money,they're easy to install,and they require little maintenance."
